Automobile-headlight.



W. N. ALLAN.

AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 19m.

1, 1 46,9 1 4. Patented July 20, 1915.

ZlZhIIZJE/Z'Zlaw 24 zaw WILLIAM 1v. ALLAN, on SAN ANTONIO, TEIABJ A TOMOBILE-HEADLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20,1915

Application filed June 1 2, 1914. 1 Serial No. 844,756.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM N. ALLAN), citizen of the United States, residing at-ban Antonio, in the'county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Headlights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to. headlights or illuminating means for an automobile or other vehicle, and the primary object of the invention 'is'to" provide simplified means for projecting orf'casting w an angle in advance-of the front .wheels of an automobile or other vehicle from :1 normal forwardly projected disposition of the gular position as long as desired without requiring continuous manual attention and retention, and thereby relieve the front of an automobile or other vehicle of the confusing glare of a light which is usually projected longitudinally or straightaway in- -advance f anjautomobil'e'iir vehicle without dimin- [shin or modifying the full reflecting or' J5 'illumlnating capaoity of the lighting means a light downwardly at light, and tomaintain the light in this an- I I the automobile or, other like vehiclefshown.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a broken sectional side elevation of a portion of 'an-automobile showing the 'impi'ovedheadlight at tachment apphedthereto; Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of an automobile, illus- "6o trating the hood and showing the improved the line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fi

headlight operating means. Fig. 3 is a de-g tail transverse section taken in the plane of s; ,4 and 5 are dev the stop means for '65 ta'il views of a part of the headlights .vvhen the latter are elevated in normal position. I V

y The numeral 5 designatesthe chassis, 6 the body, and 7 the hood of an-automobileo" I like vehicle,lwhich willbe mounted on ru ning gear of any suitable type; The partso in-the drawing are of the usual formandino" or headlight, and at the same time praeti cally servem-a ding proper steering move-c ments of the automobile o r' vehi'ele, andalso toprovide to normal position. v

In applying attachments of all descriptions to automobiles and mechanism generally, standardized features ofconstruction must be invariably considered to avoid material reorganization or change of fixed structural parts when adapting improved attachments thereto. The in view the application of thejimprov'ed means in connection with the usual formof heiidlight yokes or light supports of difieren resent"invention has for ready restoration of the light front extremity of the hood 'providedwith upper bearings 10 transversely extending rock-she modification of thegenei'al structure ofau-u'j tomobllesor other analogous vehicles i's're are secured, one j'on each, and theseibra ckets are mainly similar tothose'mrdina ilyemployed for supportingitheihadlig so 1 s ward lamps, butainbt e prefsentfinst ing rod 11 is-moun'ted in a'dva Fig. 2. Headli ht or lamp yoke reite ate} in thepresent instance having lowerisl '13 whlc h a fii fifidfivr the oppbi i of the rock-shaft orrod 11;.-an'

types, so that the adaptation may beef-f fected without modifying the yokes or sup ports in any of the essentials and thereby permit attachmentwoffl-the improved; means to yokes orsupportsiif complete automobiles or vehicles or those now'in use by a wardly ornhavingthe lea t, loose movement.-

eration. l r

headlight or illuminating demeans constitutes an improve" allowed applivery simple 6p 4 The present vice operating ment of th disclosed by my" hereinafter, claimed in preferred form. I,

more fully described and.

which is .-he l 101" rod' 11,. its-clearly; is

cured to the opposite extrem ties ofthe rock? shaft orirodll utside of theTiipper-Lbear I ings 10 of the brackets 9, the saidyokes 2 against movement on the latter-b setfser' a or analogous devices 14. Tha 's eaves 130596 the yokes 12 are eachlformed with n show-"1 der or stop 15 which is adapted to engage-as pin or projection 16 extending outwardly- LJET'CIIIV thelbracket ,9 so as to hold each yoke normally in upright or 'perpe'ndicular'posia I00 tlon and prevent the yokes from tiltingrear when "in upright position, ,The' rock-shaft,

or rod ll'is movedagainst the resistance of a springfl which is coiled loosely-around at portion'o'f the sameand: i v i against the outer side o'ff-th Qandthe op osijeend-sec ed plositi n o thmekst c llarls the aim 7 5 quired to adapt. the improved attaclnn'ent"-- thereto On" the'rorwardextremitis' of the I slde members 8 of the chassis brackets 9' its ease-b ar n v thruw'tixc lawn greater ole may oh of the shaft or resistance as to preventjloosc action or an accent c sterr or lamps 29 crank arm 19 is a: scared to one extremity roo ii, and to the lower end of this crank arm connecting rod 20 is attached and runs rearwardly to the depending-end of a crank arm 21 of a rock-shaft 22 mounted in suitable bearings at one side of the machine or in connection one of the side memoe'rs 8'07 the ch assis adjacent to the seat 23 of the chauffeur or driver. The rock-she it also has a shifting lever'2i connected thereto an d projecting upwardly adjacent to the seat .d is provided with the usual form of spa. dog 25 to engage a toothed segment i e lever 24; and the" roek shai't 22 together with the crank arm 21 being" arranged relatii to the chassis 5 and the floor of the suitomobile adjacent to the seat of the driver or chauffeur, as'clearly shown by Fig. 3. It is preferred that the 22 he held by g. 3, said. bracket bearing 27 for the 3'OCl .-Sl1Ift a l'iracliet shown also having a portion ..\.reof'fserving as a support for the toothed segment The usual form of headlights or lamps 29 are mounted in connection with the yokes 12 throiflgh the medium of sockets 30 having set-screws 31 to engage the upper terminals of the yoke arms, andthe springl'? is set primarily to operateto bring the yolies 12 and the headlights orlamps 29 carried thereby automatically into upright position after adj ustment orwhen the rock-shaft 11 is re leased. and the said spring/l7 is also ofsuch op- 12 and headlights 29 or tendcncyof said .yokes and headlight-s to move forwardly. and down-- ward-l y whensuch adj ustmentis undesirable. The spring 17 will also overcome any tendency to undue vibration or displacement of the yokes'l 2' and headlights 29, and as hereinbefom noted the projections oushouldcrs 15 normally engaging the stops or pins 16 will obstruct rearward movement of the yokcs' l2 and headlights or lamps 29 beyond termined normal position. The pin on 16 comprises a head 32 having US with. a screu -threaded' j The purstop is to obtain proper 'rllights keep the eration of the yokes to overcome cxtneinit' en g Po of s'form ad lzstmentof round" Sons" ndlcox p to iv n; -rsel;f.*- .thea h 1 in the opposite do fl. lower itxwlwn the headlights rise to an ab norma "f ward inclination. A fter the pin 4 or" on has been adjusted, the nut 34;

" ed tcfseum the pin against acci v h'zent. v s .t the yolccs l2 and thcheadlights the rilanifl'eur or driver grasps angle of inclination soas to can same direction and pulls downwardly on the forward crank arm 19 against the r sistance of the spring 17, and by this means the rock-shaft or rod 11 is moved forward] in its bearings and the yokes 12 and head lights or lamps equally thrown forwardly at a downward Se the light rays to be cast or projected on the roadway in advance of the forward extremity of the 22 to swing 7o 29 are simultaneously and so automobile or other vehicle and relieve the, 86

front of the automobileof a longitudinally projected light or glare without in the least interfering with the illumination of the roadway so that the driver or chauffeur may have full view or". the roadway to steering or guiding the machine as a whole. The yokes. 12 and headlights or lamps 29 may be adjusted at any downward angle desired and the adjustment maintained by permitting the dog 25 teeth of the segment 26 without requiring a continualmanual retention of the operating mechanism by the chauffeur or driver. When the-rock-shaft 11 is operated to throw the yokes 1 2 and headlights or lamps 29 for-- wardly at an angle to bring the headlights at a downward angle of projection as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the spring 17 is wound or contracted relatively to the shaft or rod 11, and when it is desired to release 106 or restore the yokes upright position the connected from the the spring 17 then 12 and headlights 29 to shifting lever 24 is dis toothed segment 26 and acts to automatically reset the yokes and headlights or to raise the 110 latternntil the pro ections or shoulders 15 engage and rest upon the stops or pins 16. It will. be seen inthe adjustment of the yokes and headlights that the luminosity or reflect assist in 90 to engage between the 95 ing capacity of the headlights is notiin the 116 least modified and at any momerztg desired n nfound' necessary during the trayel 'ofthe an mo iile 'or other vehicle the headlights be permitted to quickly resumetheir porn alv "in y'or ot-themaehlne' 3 ll aniline-.1!

adjusted as to relieve machine cf the brilliant and ofttimes confusing projected light which is so blindin to persons in the path. of the vehicle, and thel attaclmlent permits a quick' compliance. wit: tl

e attachment automobile I dsi'tio'n and project the rays oflight 120 straight away in advance v, lidiights or.searchllghts may be 'read1ly,;..;

the front of 1:110:11"... L.

:e .regulutions'jof certain mumcipuli- 1 i Y vohes directly and their points ineligaeoiilent with oi the autoi'nobile or vehicle.

to get out or alight'tronrthe automobile or attachment avoiding the necessity at the same time overcoming any confusion, so far as pedestrians are concerned, that usually arises from astraigz'ht-away projected light within the small confines of tratlieerowded thoroughfares of numieipali ties.

The improved attachment may be readily applied to any form of automobile frame now in use without materially modifying or changi g the staiulardized organization of automobiles as now generally constructed, and in view of the. simplicity of the parts of the attachment the cost of application thereof is reduced to a minimum with material advantages incident to the operation thereof, as hercinbeiore noted.

It will be seen that the chauffeur oipdriver vehicle in order to'adjust the headlights, the Gperation of: the latter being controlled solely from within the machine through the medium of] the slii't'tin glever 2- lt will also be understood that in"applying; the attaclnnent to various typeset automobiles, :hanges in the. proportions, dimensions and minor details may be adopted at will within the scope oi the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an automobile, of lamps and yohes connected thereto. a rock sha'l't hli-ving the lower portions otthe mounted on the opposite extremities thereof and held against lateral movement, the lamps and yoltes posed over and directly alrove'the the yohes being rigid betfgggn rock shaft, the lamps the rock shalt and'prevented from having pivotal movement relatively to the said shall, means for moving: the rorl; shall taneously throw the lamps and their yohtS at a l'orward"and downward angle of inclination, and means engaging the rock shaft for automatically turning the lamps and yohes lo normal upright position when the first nam d means is released.

2. The combination with lamps, oi yokes provided with lower terminating horizontal sleeves rigidly connected thereto, a shaft on the ends oi' which the. sleeves of the yokes are lined,- the yolv'es and lampsbeingg prevented from having a pivotal movement relatively to Harald; shaft, the lamps and yokes havingmovement solely a forward and downwardly .inclined anginrnvard direction and obstructed againstv tateral movement in either direction, and means for op crating the rock shaft for 9: ring the. lamps of inoditying the normal intensity of the light and is not required I being: dislo simulroclc and their yokes to unitedly move forwardly and downwardly at the'same angle of inclination. 7 1 3. The eoinhinatioifivith lamps, of rigid yokes connected theretjdand having lower terminal rigid attaching means, a transversely extending rigid connecting means to the ends of which the said attaching: means of the yokes are fixed. mechanism for operating said connecting means to simultaneously-throw the head lights and yokes at a forward and downward angle of inclination by direct operation of the supporting yokes and lamps and said connecting means, said mechanism being: in part attached to the connecting means between the points o engagement of the yokes therewith. and means for restoring: the lamps and vokes to normal upright position when the mechanism for operating; the connecting means is released.

4. The combination with lamps, of yokes therefor having lower terminal attaching meansrigidlyconnected to the ends thereof, a transversely 'e/.\ tending rock shaft on whieh the attaching means are fixed. the yolies being over and directly above the rock shaft, a non-rotatable pul'lrod connected to the rock shaft bet ween the points of attachment of the yolies thereto. lever and shaft mechanism' for operating the pull rod, and n eans' tor restoringthe lampsahd attachnt a reel l the in h rigikl" \vhi h I Taft having suitable are. fixedly the hack by the attaching devices of the yolies and by the bearing means for the rock shaft to prevent the yokes and lamps from tiltin g baclnvardly beyond a normal upright position, a non-rotatable rod connected to the rock shaft for simultaneously tilting the lamps forwardly and downwardly at an-angle of inclination, mechanism for operating thesaid rod, and means for restoring the rock shaft. yoltes and lamps to normal upright position when the. pull-rod is released.

(l. The combinationwith the usual lamps or headlighls' bt an automobile. of yoltes connected thereto and having lower rigid attaching means. a rock shaltprovided with suitable beaiingzs, the attaching devices of the yolies being mounted on the opposite extremities of the rock shall (lflti'iltle ol' the bearing means and with the from having lateral mov in a horizontal p V} ln's being: disposed over andgnectly abovc the rock shaft, mechanism" connected to the IU(l\' shaft for simultaneously operating the YOlx'O-S the r l fltlpl'lglll positionwhen thelampsprevented,

devices and yoltes hearing devices.\stop means in part ca rried and lamps, and means for automatically restoring the rock shaft, yokes and lamps to normal upright posit on when the said mechanism is released.

The combination with headlights and supports therefor fixed against rotation in a horizontal plane, of mechanism exclusivelv co perating shoulder means on the supports.

8. The combination with headlights and supports therefor fixed against rotation in a horizontal plane, of mechanism for throwing the headlights and supports forwardly and downwardly at an inclination from an upright position, means for automatically elevating the headlights and supports to normal upright position when released, and

means for checking the movement of the headlights and supports when theyrise to an upright position and consisting of adjustable stop projections and cooperating shoulder means on the supports.

9. The combination with headlights and supports therefor, of mechanism for throwing the headlights forwardly and downwardly at an angle of inclination, and means for causing the headlights to always assume a normal upright position consisting of eceentrically adjustable headed pins and cooperating shoulder means on the supports.

1 10. The combination with lamps or headlights having rigid supporting vyokes, of mechanism for throwing the lamps and yokes forwardly and downwardly from an upright position and including a rock shaft on'whichthe yokesj are fixed and held therefor having lower against lateral movement, bearing means for and provided with eccentric heads, the pertions of the yokes fixed to the rock shaft having projecting shoulders to engage the said eccentric heads for maintaining the lamps in normal upright position, and means for restoring the lamps and yokesto normal upright position when said mechanism is released.

11. The combination with lamps, of yokes attaching means rigidly connected thereto, a transversely extending rock shaft on which the attaching means of the yokes are fixed, the yokes being disposed over and above the rock shaft and. prevented from having pivotal action relatively to the rock shaft, and operating means for the yokes and lamps all located below the latter and directly connected to e the rock shaft between the points of engagement of the attaching means of the yokes therewith.

12. The combination with lamps, of yokes therefor having lower attaching means rigidly connected thereto, a transversely ex tending rock shaft to the ends of which "the said attaching means are rigidly fixed, and operating mechanism for the rock shaft and connected to said shaft below the yokes, the

operating mechanism being also attached to the rock shaft between the points of connection of the yokes thereto.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. 1

WILLIAM N. ALLAN, W itncsses ARMsTiAn' N. WEBB, JAMES E. STEUART, 

